FBI Investigates Possible Terrorism After Shooting At Bar Leaves 2 Dead, 14 Wounded
In the early hours of Sunday, a gunman wearing clothes with an Iranian flag design and the words “Property of Allah” opened fire at a Texas bar, killing two people and injuring 14 others. The FBI is investigating the shooting, which occurred just a day after the U.S. and Israel launched an attack on Iran, raising concerns of potential terrorism.
The shooter, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, was shot and killed by police in Austin. He used both a pistol and a rifle during the attack outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden on Sixth Street, a popular nightlife spot near the University of Texas at Austin.
Nathan Comeaux, a senior at the University, described the chaotic scene at the bar filled with college students before the shooting took place. He witnessed the gunman driving past the bar multiple times before opening fire on patrons.
According to Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, the suspect then parked his SUV, got out with a rifle, and continued shooting at people on the street. Officers intervened swiftly, with three critically injured individuals taken to the hospital.
Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the attack, with suspicions of terrorism looming. Diagne, originally from Senegal, became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2013 after entering the country in 2000.
Witnesses and Responses
Student Nathan Comeaux recalled the moment he heard gunshots while grabbing pizza across the street from the bar. He witnessed the police response and capture of the gunman on video.
Both Texas Governor Greg Abbott and University President Jim Davis expressed solidarity with the victims and their families. The swift actions of law enforcement were praised for preventing further casualties.
The incident, while not classified as a mass killing, adds to a series of high-profile shootings in the Sixth Street entertainment district over the past few years.
As investigations continue, the community remains on edge, reflecting on the tragic events that unfolded in the heart of Austin.
